Photo credit: tracyclark.com/blog |
I remember years ago in my therapist’s office when my therapist mentioned shame to me. I looked at her completely blankly—my eyes glazed over. Of course I had heard that word many times, but didn’t really understand it. I had no idea what shame was but I knew good and well that it wasn’t my issue. (Ha!) How could it be when I had so many other issues to work on!?! Even after years of work, I still didn’t get it. But life eventually intervened and I finally got to explore my shame, thankfully.
I am a mother, artist, a nannyless momtrepreneur, wife, friend, and daughter. I am enough. I do a lot of things—some well, some not so well. But I do like myself—usually—and nothing I can think of to say in this blog or anywhere else, could be as important as what researcher, Brené Brown PhD, says in her brilliant 2010 TED talk about vulnerability here. You must watch it even if you have somewhere to be or something to do right now. You must watch it even if you don’t trust me to know what I am talking about. If we could all achieve vulnerability and a healthy awareness of our shame this world would be a much better place. If we could just be whole-hearted all the time. Brené Brown will blow your mind.
After you watch that talk, watch her 2012 TED talk here.
By the way, if you are a Downton Abbey fan and in complete withdrawal until next season like me, then the great book, The House at Tyneford, by Natasha Solomons might tide you over for a minute. In that book is a passage in which our hero finds a wedding wish note, scribbled on a piece of paper and tucked into a book: “May there be sufficient clouds in one’s life to make for a spectacular sunset.” This reader feels that those words beautifully express the effect that shame (but also the courage that it takes to be vulnerable to life’s bumps and bangs) might have on one’s life—if one is brave enough to let it in.
hey soul sister….just discovered brene’ brown’s videos last week and also her book “the gifts of imperfection” just arrived…i am loving her!!!!
xoxoxox
Hi Pam-
I swear I think this is the Brené Brown cosmic moment! I have known about her for only a year but all of the sudden she is everywhere and in every conversation. I can’t wait to read the book too. She is amazing!
I have a couple of her books and a DVD, I think too. She has an online workshop that she does too.
Must have the DVD, KM! Will borrow. Online workshop sounds good to me. If there were a Brené Brown drink at Starbucks or an actual bobble head doll of Vulnerability Ted, I’d buy those too!